Folding metallic bedstead.



No. 69U,fl68. Patented Dec. 3|. l90l.

G. A. MELLON. FOLDING METALLIC BEDSTEAD.

(Applicntion filed lliay 24, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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ITFD States GEORGE A. MELLON, OF ST. LOUIS,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO PETER II.

MELLON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FOLDING METALLIC BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 690,168, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed May 24, 1901.

T0 aZZ 1072,0722, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. MELLON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Metallic Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of folding metallic bedsteads of the type in which the construction provides for a bedstead of less height when folded than that of the ordinary folding bedstead; and the invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

Figure I is a side elevation of myimproved bedstead. Fig. II is a top or plan view of one side of the bedstead, the head portions being shown in cross-section taken on the line II II, Fig. I. Fig. III is a vertical sectional View taken on the line III III, Fig. II. Fig. IV is a vertical sectional view taken on the line IV IV, Fig. I. Fig. V is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line V V, Fig. III.

1 designates the head-posts of the bedstead, which are joined by a crossbar 2 and a crossrod 3. In front of each head-post 1 is a frame composed of a top bar 4, a bottom bar 5, and a Vertical bar 6, that joins the bars at and 5. The lower front corners of the frames, composed of the bars 4, 5, and 6, are united by a cross-bar 7.

8 designates the main side rails, that are joined by the foot-rail 9, (see Fig. 11,) that is surmounted by the foot member 10. The main side rails 8 are supported at the foot end thereof when the bedstead is unfolded by folding legs 11. Each main side rail is of angle form and has rigidly attached thereto a bracket 12, that is pivoted to an ear 13 at 14, carried by the adjacent vertical bar of the forwardly-extending frame of the bedstead. Each main side rail extends beyond the point of attachment of the bracket 12 thereto in the direction of the head-posts 1, and pivoted at 15 to said side rails are anxiliary' side rails 16, that are of angle shape in cross-section and have their flanges arranged Serial No. 61,686. (No model.)

to rest against the main side rails when the bedstead is unfolded. The rear ends of the auxiliary side rails 16 are united by the crossbar 17. The connection of the auxiliary side rails and the cross bar 17 is stiffened by braces 18. (See Fig. II.)

19 represents suspension -links pivotally connected to the auxiliary side rails 16 at their forward ends, as indicated at 20, and swingingly mounted on the cross-rod 3, positioned between the head-posts 1.

21 is the bed-bottom, which is preferably connected to the foot-rail 9 and the cross-bar 17 by springs 22.

In the unfolded or open condition the parts of the bedstead occupy the positions shown in full lines in the drawings and when folded occupy the positions seen in dotted lines, Fig. I. In folding the bedstead the outer ends of the side rails 8 are moved upwardly and inwardly toward the head-posts 1, and in such movement said side rails, together with the brackets 12, fixed thereto, swing on the pivot 14, that connects the brackets 12 to the vertical bars 6 through the interposition of the ears 13. In the movement of the main side rails 8 the forward ends of the auxiliary side rails 16 pivot at the points 15, Where they are connected to the main side rails, and the forward ends of the auxiliary side rails move downwardly into the position seen in dotted lines, Fig. I, rearward thrust of the auxiliary side rails being permitted by the suspension-links 19, which are pivotally connected to the auxiliary side rails and swing on the cross-rod 3, as explained. It will therefore be seen that the bedstead is folded into a compact and lowered condition and that when folded the parts naturally retain the positions assumed by reason of the weight of the folding members being thrust entirely in a downwardly direction, so that there is no liability of the parts accidentally moving to cause the unfolding of the bedstead. When the main side rails 8 are lowered in unfolding the bedstead, the parts move in directions opposite'to those in which they move in the folding action, and as the main side rails approach a horizontal position the suspension-links 19 restrain and limit the forward movement of the auxiliary side rails 16, so that said auxiliary side rails are drawn into alinement with the main side rails and retained in such alineinent by reason of their connection through the suspensionlinks to the cross-rod 3.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the side rails of the bedstead are each in two sec tions connected near the head end of the bed stead. The main side rails and the auxiliary side rails are both of angle form, as stated, and the auxiliary side rails overlap the main side rails and are so pivoted thereto that their horizontal flanges rest upon the horizontal flanges of the main side rails when the bedstead is in unfolded condition, thereby preventing the auxiliary side rails from dropping down below the horizontal level of the main side rails. When the bedstead is folded, the two sections of the side rails pivot with relation to each other, and their movement is limited by the suspension-links 19. Therefore when the bedstead is unfolded the springs 22 at the ends of the bed-bottom are put under tension, and the suspension-links form a bearing against both the head-posts and the side rails and force the auxiliary siderail sections into a horizontal position, which is maintained by reason of the overlapping contact of the main and auxiliary side-rail sections where they are pivoted. The simplicity of the manner in which the side rails are hinged or pivoted together and the connection of the auxiliary side rails to the headposts by the suspension-bars is a feature of material merit in the construction of a bedstead of the class herein set forth overthe constructions embodied in other bedsteads of the same nature. ,Other methods of conibining a bed-frame on which there is a tension with the head of the bedstead necessitates provision against the tendency to pull the bedstead-head forwardly,owing to the tension on the bed-bottom when the frame isbeing lowered to a horizontal position, and by my construction I avoid any requirement of such nature, as there is no existence of strain between the parts.

I claim as my invention In a folding bedstead, the combination of a frame, brackets pivoted to said frame, main side rails of angle form rigidly fixed to said brackets and having extensions projecting rearwardly beyond said brackets, auxiliary side rails of angle form having their forward horizontal flanges arranged to project onto the extensions of said main side rails, extensions projecting forwardly from the vertical flanges of said auxiliary side rails, and pivot ally connected to said main side rails forward of the horizontal flanges of the auxiliary rails, and means whereby said auxiliary rails are swingingly supported at their rear ends; the vertical extensions of said auxiliary side rails permitting the horizontal flanges of the auxiliary side rails to bear upon the rearwardly projecting extensions of said main side rails when the bedstead is in unfolded position, substantially as and for the purpose set'forth.

GEO. A. MELLON In presence of E. S. KNIGHT, M. P. SMITH. 

